The flight from Manila to Masbate is a quick 70-minute jump. But on this trip last Monday, April 13, for the 30th Rodeo Festival, the passenger list was a bit more exclusive than usual.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos headed to the country’s rodeo capital at the invitation of Maloli Espinosa-Supnet. What started as a small group of four eventually grew when the First Lady decided to bring a handful of journalists along. It was an unusual move. She invited the press not just to tag along, but to sit in the presidential cabin for the whole flight, a level of access you don’t typically see from her office.

The trip kicked off at the Maharlika Hangar in Villamor Airbase. Since the President took office, the First Lady has made renovating this hangar a priority. It now serves as the official terminal for the First Family, which lets them skip the public crowds at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) entirely.

Marichu Villanueva, the executive editor of the Philippine Star and a long-time Malacañang reporter, noticed the change immediately. She remembered it as a basic, small structure with almost no security tech. Today, it feels like a boutique international airport, fitted with X-ray machines, immigration desks, and dedicated lounges for staff, media, and security.

About 15 minutes before takeoff, the President’s son, Vinny Marcos, showed up in a simple blue polo. Despite who he is, he skipped the VIP section and waited with the media for his mother. A crew member mentioned that Vinny actually prefers sitting at the back of the C-295M with his friends. He even boarded through the rear cargo ramp instead of the main door his parents use.

The First Lady was the last to board, dressed for a day out in a native Filipino shirt, jeans, and sneakers. One of her first moves was to walk to the back of the plane to hand out cowboy hats she brought for Vinny and his group.

Vinny wanted to see the rodeo because he’s into high-adrenaline sports, and he brought a couple of friends along for the ride. Tony Lopez, founder and CEO of BizNewsAsia magazine, introduced the media group to the First Lady.

For veterans like Villanueva and Jake Maderaso of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, it was more of a reunion than an introduction. When Lopez suggested Vinny move to the front cabin with the “VIPs,” the First Lady declined, saying her son was perfectly happy where he was.

As the plane taxied, it was clear this wasn’t a standard flight—we were given immediate priority for takeoff. Once we were up, the conversation turned back to the hangar. The First Lady explained that using public terminals in the past required massive security presence that frustrated regular travelers and delayed flights. Moving to the hangar was a way to stop that disruption.

The renovation also turned up some strange remnants of the old building. She described a few “weird” finds, including a bedroom where the walls and ceiling were entirely covered in mirrors. She wondered out loud why a bedroom was even necessary in a transit point.

The mood stayed casual. The First Lady talked about the President’s schedule and brushed off the wild rumors that circulate online. She laughed at recent “death rumors” about her husband, noting that for people who want to believe the worst, no amount of “proof of life” will ever be enough.

At cruising altitude, she pulled a bag of V-Cut chips from a basket and passed snacks around the cabin for everyone to share. Between snacks, she opened a MacBook in a custom shade of blue you won't find in an Apple Store. She had it finished in actual car paint after seeing a friend do the same with an iPhone.

When we landed, the tarmac was empty of the usual red carpets and welcoming committees. We moved directly to the waiting cars—a no-nonsense arrival that, as we were told, is the First Lady’s signature.

It was a typical Masbate summer day: humid with a bit of drizzle. At the festival opening, the First Lady and Vinny stayed in high spirits, cutting the ribbon and touring the exhibition booths. She took a real interest in the local products, asking vendors where they sourced their materials and even offering to include some in an upcoming ASEAN summit exhibition.

Her shopping style is very direct. If she likes something, she asks the price, takes the item, and asks an assistant to handle the payment. The assistant also makes sure to photograph every gift she receives so they can document exactly who it came from.

She was also approachable with the crowd. When a mother carrying a son with a bandaged foot approached her to talk about his condition, she stopped to listen and promised to help.

Since it was a rodeo, someone from the family had to get in the saddle. Vinny took the lead on that, sparing his mother the task. He looked like he was genuinely having a good time and clearly knew his way around a horse.

We spent just two hours on the ground. The First Lady had a stack of meetings back in Manila, but the short stay left an impression. It was a chance to see how they interact with people—sincere and without the usual “VVIP” air.

Back on the plane, the crew handed out single-use wet towels with Malacañang Palace labels. The First Lady explained that they used to use cloth towels, but guests kept taking them home as souvenirs. Since that was costing taxpayers money, they switched to these durable single-use ones that people are welcome to take.

On the flight back, she shared that she and the President are already looking forward to retirement and traveling the world. She even showed us a widget on her laptop screen: a live countdown tracking the exact years, months, and days left in the President’s term. She said that when things get stressful, she just looks at those numbers as a reminder that there’s a finish line.

Upon landing, she headed straight to the suite at the Maharlika Hangar to change. “I have to change because meetings are already waiting for me,” she said.

Before we left, she gave a quick rundown of the plan to rehabilitate Intramuros, mentioning that she’s seeking support from the country’s top tycoons, such as Ramon Ang, Enrique K. Razon, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, and Kevin Tan, to help fund it.

The trip was a rare look at the person behind the title. She’s candid and what you see is what you get—a mom who wants the best for her kids, and a First Lady who seems to be trying to do the same for the country.